FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Kutztown University acrobatics & tumbling team made its second straight postseason appearance, Saturday, setting a new season-high meet score in a 261.235-223.740 Mountain East Conference semifinal loss to fourth-ranked and defending league champion Fairmont State.

The host and top-seeded Falcons (10-0) used two 9.8+ scores in the compulsory event to jump out to an early lead and never looked back in advancing to Sunday's championship meet against second-seeded Glenville State.

Kutztown (5-5) fought hard against one of the nation's consistently elite teams. Despite falling behind by nearly four points in the compulsory event, the Golden Bears put up 9.0+ scores in the pyramid and toss heats, with their 9.275/10 in the toss a new season-high score. KU also set a season-best in the acro heat (8.55/10) and earned its top compulsory event score of the year with a 33.725/40.

Fairmont State increased its lead with a 28.525 in the acro event to Kutztown's 23.700. Elaina Blackstock (Brookhaven, Pa./Sun Valley), Evyn Heberlig (Newburg, Pa./Shippensburg), Sydney Jundt (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) and Natalie Watson (Budd Lake, N.J./Mount Olive) were responsible for the Maroon and Gold's best 7-element heat score of the season (9.375/10).

The Bears went toe-to-toe with the Falcons in the pyramid event, surpassing scores of 9.2 in all three heats, including a 9.675/10 in the open heat from Gianna Costanzo (Lovettsville, Va./Woodgrove), Heberlig, Jundt, Cecilia Marshall (Bellingham, Mass./Home Schooled), Jordyn Osner (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), Haley Sullick (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) and Julia Yeager (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg).

Fairmont State led 95.400-85.625 at halftime and would extend its advantage after the break with strong performances in the toss, tumbling and team events.

Kutztown set new season-highs in the toss event (24.400/27.400), highlighted by season-best heat scores in the synchronized heat (8.05/9.00) and open heat (8.45/9.00). Alexia Vecchiolli (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) recorded a season-best 9.325/9.550 in the tumbling 6-element pass.

Kutztown's 223.740 meet score was its highest of the season, surpassing the 220.155 score it registered in a tri-meet with Glenville State and West Virginia State back on Feb. 21.

Vecchiolli will represent the Golden Bears in the 6-element tumbling heat at Sunday's MEC Event Finals, which are set to begin at noon.